Hair coloring applicator



May 11, 1965 w. R. WATKINS HAIR GOLQRING APPLICA'I'OR Filed July 12.1962 Q SUCTION LINE Willie I?! Walk/77s 1N VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,182,666 HAIR QOLORING APPLICATOR Willie R.Watkins, Greensboro, N.C., assiguor of one=half to Alfred T. Staples,Greensboro, N.C. Filed July 12, 1962, Ser. No. 209,338 Claims. (Cl.132-9) This invention relates, generally construed, to the art ofhairdressing and servicing equipment and appliances such as areprimarily constructed for use by hair stylists and barbers in beautysalons and barber shops, re-

spectively.

More specifically, the invention pertains to unique multipurposemanually usable means which, while it is capable of practical andeffective use as a hair drier, is primarily intended for hair coloringpurposes; for example, bleaching, streaking, tinting, and dyeing.

In carrying out the principles of the concept and looking toward theprovision of an appliance which gives new vision and perspective to,hair conditioning problems an applicator of significant simplicity inconstruction and mode of use has been devised. With no sacrifice toeffectiveness and efliciency this applicator, a experimental .testinghas shown, well serves the purposes for which it is intended.

Briefly summarized a preferred embodiment of the invention ischaracterized by means which functions to collect, enclose and confinethe lock of hair which is being acted on. This means is such that itsubjects the strands of the lock of hair to a circulation of incomingair in a manner to dry the hair preparatory to undertaking a hairtinting or equivalent coloring step. The means embodies a restrictedspace in which the hair can be confined and concentrated. In additionother means is carried by the first named means for creating a suction,for instance by way of a simple vacuum hose, and for drawing air intoand discharging it from the space.

Somewhat more particularly the means first mentioned above is preferablycharacterized by a hollow body which is such in shape and also in sizethat it is capable of being held in one hand of at user and shiftablymoved according to the skill of the user over the hair which is beingtreated and in such a manner that it is capable of assuming a positionwhich is spaced from the scalp of the users hair.

The broad expression coloring is being used herein and is intended tocomprehend hair conditioning insofar as it pertains to the use of suchprocedures as are commonly referred to as rinsing, tinting, bleaching ordyeing. it is generally well recognized by beauticians and stylists thata satisfactory hair tinting or dyeing job in keeping with the techniquesand a practices now followed requires at least one hour. Experience inusing the herein disclosed color applier and applicator tends toindicate that ahighly satisfactory tinting or dyeing job can be achievedin about twenty minutes, more or less. It has also been observed thatthere is no need to wash the hair after the application and that, as amatter of fact,

. a result more satisfactory than heretofore attainable is almostinvariably the case. 1

member provides an air intake. The upper end provides a discharge andpermits a suction hose to be connected therewith. The hollow portionbetween the tubular member and encompassing wall of the body provides acontainer for the liquid coloring preparation. The junctional portionbetween the bottom of the body and tubular member has atomizing anddiffusing orifices which afford communication between the hollowcontainer portion and the contiguous liquid intake end of the tubularmember.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing an exemplary embodiment of theinvention and illustratingthe manner in which it is handled and used.

FIG. 2 is also a view in perspective but on a larger scale and whichdetails the construction and arrangement of the exterior surfaceportions.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view with the closure or cover means removed.

FIG. 4 is a section on a suitably enlarged scale taken approximately onthe plane of the vertical section line 4-4 of FIG. 1 looking in thedirection of the arrows.

And FIG. 5 is an exaggerated detailed sectional view taken on thesection line 5--5 of FIG. 2.

The applicator means considered broadly is denoted by the numeral 8 andthe suction line which is an essential component part thereof is denotedat 10. The means 8, more particularly comprises a plastic or anequivalent bulbous-shaped hollow body the enlarged forward end portionof which is denoted at 12. The body may be of transparent material andthe hollow portion thereof provides a container or reservoir 14 for theliquid preparation which is intended for use depending, of course, onthe particular coloring technique and procedure which is to be carriedout. This body portion surrounds or envelopes an axially disposedopen-ended tubular member '16 the lower or forward endportion of whichis denoted at 18. This lower end portion merges into' 'the convex webportion 20 which latter portion in end elevation is substantiallyannular, the convex or exterior surface thereof being provided withcircumferentially spaced open-ended air intake and delivery grooves orstructurally equivalent air intake passages 22. The junctional portionbetween the annulus 20 and lower end 18 is provided with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced liquid dicharging and dispersing orifices 24.These orifices afford communication between the chamber 14 and the ductwhich is defined by the tube 16. To produce the desired dispensing andatomizing result and with a view toward providing a suction-pulled mistthe delivery ends of the orifices are preferably, but not essentiallyprovided with bosses 26 which assist in effectually spraying the aeratedmist into the duct. The grooves 22 are arranged so that the innermostends are approximately in alinement with Approached specifically andprimarily from a struc-.

tural standpoint, the embodiment of the invention herein exemplary ofthe concept comprises a hollow bulbous shaped body one. end of which isannular and provided with convex surface means which is radially groovedor otherwise correspondingly constructed. The body has a.

closable filler port preferably'on one side and a vent on the otherside. bodied in the hollow portion of the body and is integraltherewithand extends axially and lengthwise therethrough 5/ and is openat the ends. Theirlower end of this tubular An elongated tubular memberis em- I with an extension ld with a passage 48 providing an air it befor bleaching, tinting, dyeing or other hair tending problems.

On the. diametrically opposite side there is a similar indentation orwell 44 provided on its inner end 3 vent. There is a screw threaded holeat 569 to accommodate the screw portion of the plug 52 which has apassage 54 therethrough and which as is clear provides the desiredventing result.

It is within the purview of the inventive concept to use the device inthe manner illustrated for example in FIG. 1 as a hair drier. Forinstance with the chamber having no liquid therein and applying suctionthrough the suction line the hair, if wet, can be drawn up into theconcentrating duct in the manner illustrated generally in FIG. 4 and inthis way dried. In other words, after a shampoo, the suction hair tinteror drier can be used to remove most of the Water to the point ofreducing the time needed to dry the hair at least 50%. This step in andof itself is a valuable time saver. By sitting under a drier for a longtime the customer is often tired and in some instances irritated.Therefore the usual under-the-drier step can be eliminated by using theherein disclosed invention for hair-drying purposes. Experimental use ofthe invention has shown that valuable time and labor is effectuallysaved in fact to the extent that it is believed that adoption and use ofthe invention will promote the progress in a conclusive manner. It is tobe again suggested that in the tinting and dyeing steps involving theuse of the invention the scalp is not touched by the applicator. In factthe users have shown that the effect is gentle, smooth and soothing. Inpractice when the suction is turned on and the reservoir chamber 14 ischargedwith the desired liquid preparation, air and liquid aresimultaneously drawn into the intake end of the tube or duct along withthe hair and with the hair confined the strands are colorcoated in aself-evident manner.

It is within the purview of the invention to put up containers inpackages for sale to members of the public and when this is done andalso for beauty shop use it is desirable to have a closure such as shownwith greater particularity in FIG. 5. The closure is denoted at 56 andcomprises a plug 58 which is plugged into the intake end of the duct andis partly retained with the aid of the nipple-like protrusions 26. Thedisk itself provides a flange and consequently otters the user asatisfactory grip.

. The aforementioned reservoir chamber can, of course, be loaded withthe desiredliquid preparation in the manner shown and described.However, it is within the purview of the invention to attach one end ofa liquid supply hose to the chamber for communication therewith and toconnect the other end of the hose with a remote delivery or supply tankin lieu of hand filling the chamber as herein shown and described.

It is believed that after after careful consideration of theillustrative views in the drawing and specification a clear andcomprehensive understanding of the subject matter of the invention, thefeatures and advantages and mode of use will be clear. Therefore, a moreextended description is regarded as unnecessary. r

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed asnew is as fOllOWSt 7 1. A multipurpose applicance foruse in a beauty salon, barber shop or home comprising: in combination, asuction hose, and means communicative'ly' but detach ably mounted on theintake end of said hose for tinting,

rinsing, dyeing, bleaching or otherwise conditioning ones hair, saidmeans being manually manipulable and embodying a hollow applicatorembodying'a forward surface provided with radial circumferentiallyspaced openended channels functioning to pick up, suck in atmoss apheric air and deliver the same into the central opening of saidsurface, the latter being applicable directly to the hair being acted onwhile proximal to but spaced slightly from the scalp, the hollow portionof said applicator defining a reservoir for suction activated liquid andembodying an axially extending open-ended tubular member constituting aduct and serving to encompass and concentrate the loose hair Within theconfines of said duct, the intake end of said duct having an annular rowof suction-controlled orifices for distributively atomizing anddispersing the atomized mist within the confines of said duct whereby tocoat and condition the confined hair.

2. A multipurpose appliance for manually controllable use in a beautysalon, barber shop or home comprising: applicator means embodying anunobstructed openended duct capable of enabling the user to collect andconfine a selected lock of ones hair therein for rinsing, drying,tinting or coloring the same, said duct having an intake end which whenin use is held proximal to the scalp to guide and draw the loose hair ofthe selected lock into said duct to be acted on, said intake end havingmeans to suck atmospheric air distributively into said duct, also havingorifice means for atomizing a mistforming rinsing, tinting or coloringliquid which is sucked into the duct to film-coat the hair which isbeing acted on, means for creating the desired suction in said duct, andliquid containing and supply means acted on by the suction fordelivering the desired amount of tinting or similar liquid to the ductby way of and to be atomized by said atomizing means.

3. The structure according to claim 2, and wherein the means forcreating the suction comprises a vacuum hose, the latter communicativelyattached to the rearward discharge end of said duct.

4. The structure defined in claim 3, and wherein the supply meanscomprises a reservoir in which the liquid is stored and which when actedon by suction, is drawn through the orifices of the orifice means andthus transformed into the desired hair coating mist.

5. A hair coloring appliance for use in a beauty salon, barber shop orat ones home comprising a hollow body having air intake means at oneend, also having a tubular member embodied in the hollow portion of thebody and integral therewith and extending axially through the hollowportion of the body and being open at its respective ends, the lower endof said tubular member having at atmospheric air intake means, a suctionhose connected to the upper discharge end of said member, the hollowportion of said body providing a container for a liquid hair tint, thejunctional portion between the bottom of the body and intake end of saidtubular member having atornizing orifices which provide communicationbetween the hollow container portion of the body and contiguous intakeend of the tubular member, said body being provided with an air ventcommunicable with. said hollow container portion.

6. A hair coloring appliance comprising an applicator embodying anopen-ended elongated tubular member defining an aerated mist directingand hair collecting and concentrating duct, said duct being encompassedby and enveloped within the chamber of 'a hollow bulbous body, saidchamber providing a receiving reservoir for a liquid hair lotion, thelower end portion of said body communicating with the adjacentcorresponding lotion intake end of said tubular member by way ofregistering lotion atomizing and dispersing orifices formed in thetubular member, the upper end of said member constituting a dischargeneck and being adapted to permit a suction hose to be separablyconnected thereto.

7. The structure according to claim 6, and wherein the intake end ofsaid tubular'member is provided with areadily applicable and removableclosure, said closure embodying a disk-like member having a central bosswhich is plugged telescopicallyinto said intake end;. i

8. The'structure according to claim 6,'and wherein said body is providedwith a filler opening having a removable closure and is also providedwith a vent.

9. The structure according to claim 6, and wherein each orifice isprovided with a protruding nipple-like boss projecting radially into thesuction activated air intake end of said duct.

10. A hair coloring appliance comprising a hollow bulbous-shaped bodyone end of which is annular and provided with a radially grooved convexsurface, said body having a closable filler port on one side and a venton another side, an elongated tubular member embodied in the hollowportion of said body and integral therewith and extending axially andlengthwise therethrough and open at its ends, the lower end of saidmember providing an air intake, the upper end providing a discharge andpermitting a suction hose to be connected therewith,

the hollow portion between the tubular member and encompassing wall ofthe body providing a container for a References Cited by the ExaminerUNITED STATES PATENTS 1,514,495 11/24 Wirth FOREIG N PATENTS 1,060,40511/53 France.

610,771 12/60 Canada.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

2. A MULTIPURPOSE APPLIANCE FOR MANUALLY CONTROLLABLE USE IN A BEAUTYSALON, BARBER SHOP OR HOME COMPRISING: APPLICATOR MEANS EMBODYING ANDUNOBSTRUCTED OPENENDED DUCT CAPABLE OF ENABLING THE USED TO COLLECT ANDCONFINE A SELECTED LOCK OF ONE''S HAIR THEREIN FOR RINISING, DRYING,TINTING OR COLORING THE SMAE, SAID DUCT HAVING AN INTAKE END WHICH WHENIN USE IS HELD PROXIMAL TO THE SCALP TO GUIDE AND DRAW THE LOOSE HAIR TOTHE SELECTED LOCK INTO SAID DUCT TO BE ACTED ON, SAID INTAKE, END HAVINGMEANS TO SUCK ATMOSPHERIC AIR DISTRIBUTIVELY INTO SAID